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It's official: Nicole Scherzinger is to replace Cheryl Cole on Fox's "The X Factor" this fall.

After weeks of heavily publicized rumors, British pop singer Cole was dumped from the judging panel for the singing contest. Scherzinger, formerly of the Pussycat Dolls, will join producer Simon Cowell as well as Paula Abdul and recording veteran L.A. Reid at the judges table.

"Fox, Fremantle North America and Syco TV today confirm Nicole Scherzinger will be replacing Cheryl Cole on the judging panel of 'The X Factor,'" the companies wrote in a short statement Monday morning.

Scherzinger was originally set to cohost the show alongside Welsh-born TV presenter Steve Jones. Now Jones will go it alone.

The reasons for Cole's ouster remain mysterious. Some reports suggested that Americans were having trouble understanding her accent. Other accounts related a lack of chemistry between her and Abdul. The statement issued Monday did not offer a reason for her exit, nor did it say whether she would return to the British version of "X Factor," on which she has appeared in the past.